/-  s> 


■    1,1  .  i  .7    \\>\Z. 


V.  s.  DEPARTMENT  OF    VGRICULTURE, 

BUREAU    OP    ENTOMOLOGY     CIRCULAR    No.   165. 

L    O.    HOWARD.    Knlomologul  *nd  Uu^  o<  Bmr.u. 


INSECTS  LIABLE  TO  DISSEMINATION  IN 
SHIPMENTS  OF  SUGAR  CANE 


BY 


T.    E.    HOLLOW  \Y, 

'•int. 


607W     12 


TOM  :  GOVEBNMETT    PRINTING  OFFICE  :  >»l» 


BUREAU  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 

L.  0.  Howard,  Entomologist  and  t  hief  of  Bureau. 

C.  L.  Marlatt,  Entomologist  and  Acting  Chief  in  Absence  of  Chief . 

R.  S.  Clifton,  Executive  Assistant. 

W.  F.  Taptet,  Chief  Clerk. 

F.  H.  Chittenden,  in  charge  of  truck  crop  and  stored  product  insect  investigations. 

A.  D.  Hopkins,  in  charge  of  forest  insect  investigations. 

W.  D.  Hunter,  in  charge  of  southern  field  crop  insect  investigatic 

F.  M.  Webster,  in  charge  of  cereal  and  forage  insect  i7ivestigatio>>s. 

A.  L.  Quaintance,  i?i  charge  of  deciduous  fruit  insect  it — ligations. 
E.  F.  Phillips,  in  charge  of  bee  culture. 

D.  M.  Rogers,  in  charge  of  preventing  spreadof  moths,  field  work. 
Rolla  P.  Currie,  in  charge  of  editorial  work. 
Mabel  Colcord,  in  charge  of  library . 

Southern  Field  Crop  Insect  Investigations. 

W.  D.  Hunter,  in  charge. 

W.  D.  Pierce,  .1    D.  Mitchell,  G.  D.  Smith.  E.  A.  McGregor,   Harry  Pixels. 

B.  R.  Coad,  G.  N.  Wolcott,  W.  A.  Thomas,   R.  W.  Moreland,  C.  E.  Hester. 
engaged  in  cotton-boll  weevil  investigations. 

A.  C.  Morgan.  G.  A    Runner,  S.  E.  Crumb,  D.  C.  Parhak,  <«guged  in  tobacco 

insect  investigation 
F.  C.  Bishopp.  A.  H.  Jennings,  H.  P.  Wood.  W.  V.  King,  <  ngagedin  tick  investigations. 
T.  E.  Hoi.i.oway.  E   R.  Barber,  engaged  in  sugar-ca  nvestigations. 

J.  L.  Webb,  engaged  in  ria  insect  investigations 

R.  A.  ('ooi.EY,  D.  L.  Van  Dine,  A.  F.  Conradi,  (. .  C.  Krumbhaar,  collaborators. 
ii 


Circular  Na  165.  band  Di   ■  II 

Limed  States  Department  of  Agriculture, 

BDREAD  OK  HTTOMOLOaT. 

L.  O.  HOWARD,  Eatomologiat  and  Chief  of  Bureau. 


INSECTS  LIABLE  TO  DISSEMINATION  IN  SHIPMENTS  OF 

SUGAR  CANE. 

By  T   E   Hollo*  w, 

l 

IN  I  ROD1   (    I  ION. 

T  e  danger  <>f  introducing  injurious  insects  into  the  United  States 

i!  rough  the  importation  of  promising  varieties  of  sugar  cane  is  so 

and  so  often  overlooked  thai  a  word  of  warning  seems  t"  be 

However  desirable  it   may  be  to  introduce  new  varieties 

of  cane,  the  fact  that  injurious  insects  will  probably  be  disseminated 

at  the  Bame  lame  should  be  given  due  consideration.     There  is  also  a 

ri-k.  though  not  mi  great,  in  transporting  cane  from  one  place  to 

another  in  the  United  States,  as  is  often  done  for  grinding  or  planting 

purposes.     All  the  BUgar-cane  insects  in  this  country  seem  to  be  of 

only  local  distribution,  bo  thai  any  injurious  insect  may  easily  ho 

Bpread  over  a  Larger  area  by  shipments  of  cane.     Sugar  cane  intended 

prinding  is  probably  tu>1  bo  perfect  a  medium  for  transporting 

-  as  is  cane  which  is  to  he  planted,  but  if  the  cane  for  grinding 

i-  h ft  waiting  for  some  time  it  is  probable  that  the  insects  within  may 

emerge  and  infest  standing  cane  near  by.     An  injurious  insect  may 

in  this  way  obtain  a  foothold  in  a  new  region. 

To  avoid  the  introduction  of  a  new  pest  with  a  shipment  of  cane 
it  i>  desirable  to  obtain  the  cane,  if  possible,  at  a  point  where  injurious 
tfl  are  not  known  to  occur,  and  to  grow  the  cam*  for  the  first 
year  under  the  inspection  of  an  entomologist.  Shipments  of  sugar 
cane  coming  into  the  United  State-  should  be  carefully  examined  at 
the  port  of  entry,  but  sometimes  there  are  borers  within  the  cane 
which  can  not  be  detected  unless  the  -talk<  are  cut  open  and  conse- 
quently spoiled.  Oases  which  are  ordinarily  very  efficient  for  fumi- 
gation Beem  to  be  unable  to  penetrate  a  stalk  of  cane,  but  it  may  ha 
that  dipping  the  cane  in  certain  solutions  will  be  found  to  be  satis- 
factory.    Experiments  along  these  lines  are  now  in  progre>-. 

1 


2  INSECTS    IX    SHIPMENTS   OF    SUGAB    (AXE. 

Compared  with  the  knowledge  which  has  been  gained  of  certain 
other  insects,  little  is  known  concerning  the  species  which  troul  le 
sugar  cane.  The  reason  for  this  lack  of  knowledge  is  that  the  scien- 
tific study  of  the  various  species  is  a  very  recent  development,  and 
the  few  workers  in  different  parts  of  the  world  have  not  yet  had  time 
to  make  the  required  investigations.  But  the  several  species,  with 
their  respective  forms  of  injury,  have  Keen  differentiated  and  some 
of  their  life  hal  its  have  been  determined,  so  that  more  than  suffi- 
cient knowledge  has  Been  obtained  upon  which  to  base  a  warning. 
The  very  fact  that  the  measures  for  control  are  in  many  cases  doubt- 
ful makes  the  warning  even  more  urgent. 

A  list  of  species  liahle  to  dissemination  by  shipments  of  sugar 
cane  has  been  compiled  from  published  and  unpublished  notes  which 
are  on  file  at  the  office  of  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Entomology 
at  Audubon  Park,  New  Orleans.  The  various  species  are  considered 
as  follows: 

FOREIGN    INSECTS. 
THE    LARGER   MOTH    BORER. 

(Cat'nia  licus  Drury.) 

Of  the  injurious  insects  which  do  not  now  occur  in  the  United  States 
the  larger  moth  borer  is  perhaps  most  to  be  avoided.  The  injury 
to  the  cane  by  this  species  is  even  greater  than  that  which  is  caused 
by  the  moth  borer  which  we  have  in  this  country,  and  the  larger 
species  is  still  more  difficult  to  control. 

Prof.  H.  A.  Ballou,1  entomologist  of  the  Imperial  Department  of 
Agriculture  for  the  British  West  Indies,  has  published  the  following 
statement  regarding  the  pest : 

*  *  *  The  larva  reaches  a  size  of  2£  inches  in  length  and  i  inch  in  diameter 
The  tunnel  is  consequently  large  and  the  injury  to  cane  very  severe.  The  pupal 
state  is  passed  in  the  cane  or  in  the  soil  near  the  underground  portions.  The  time 
occupied  in  the  life  cycle  ranges  from  12  to  15  weeks.  The  adult  insect  is  a  large 
day-flying  moth  which  in  general  appearance  is  very  similar  to  the  large  butterflies. 

Caslnia  Jicus  is  a  native  of  South  America.  Its  original  food  plants  were  species 
of  the  orchid  family  and  of  the  family  of  plants  to  which  the  pineapple  belong 
(Bromeliaceae).  It  is  distributed  over  a  large  portion  of  the  northern  part  of  South 
America  and  extends  northward  to  Mexico;  it  has  been  known  in  Trinidad  for  several 
years.  In  British  Guiana  it  has  been  a  serious  cane  pest  in  certain  localities  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  in  Trinidad  it  is  known  to  attack  sugar  cane  and  bananas.  It 
has  also  been  reported,  as  a  cane  pest,  from  Surinam.  It  is  not  known  at  present  to 
occur  in  any  of  the  islands  north  of  Trinidad,  and  every  precaution  should  be  taken 
to  prevent  its  introduction  into  any  of  these  islands.  If  cane  plants  are  to  be  imported 
from  any  colony  or  country  where  this  pest  occurs,  only  the  tops  should  be  admitted. 
and  these  should  be  carefully  examined  for  any  signs  of  the  eggs  or  larvae  at  the  base 
of  the  leaves.     Cane  trash  should  never  be  imported,  on  account  of  the  possibility  of 

■  Insect  I'csts  of  the  Lesser  Antilles.  By  H.  A.  Ballou,  M.  Sc.  Issued  by  the  Commissioner  o(  Agri- 
culture.    Barbados,  HU2. 


[N8BCT8    in    BHIPMENTS   01     BUGAfl    CANE,  d 

Introducing  the  •  •■.".•-  \n\  trash  accidentall)  accompanying  imported  cam  plants 
should  be  rigorousl)  I. urn.. I 

'.-in  ..i  .-..iiir..l  baa  jrel  been  d  i  moth 

Collecting  the  moths  bj   meani  ol  nets  in  the  hands  "i  children  ha 

results  than  anj  ■  •  t r i . -r  direct  measure  "i  control  that  baa  been  trn-.i      F| ling 

elda  after  i h«-  removal  "i  the  crop  baa  had  a    ood  effect  in  certain  inst 
uia  practice  could  ".>'  I"-  carried  out  in  ilitiea  in  the  I  •  mat  Antilles. 

i  hi     u  I  I  \  n     BORl 

Nexl  m  importance  come  the  weevil  borers,  of  which  there  are 
several  species.  They  are  known  in  Cuba,  Porto  Rico,  Hawaii,  the 
British  West  [ndies,  and  probably  in  South  America  and  Mexico.  It 
Beems  that  one  or  two  species  maj  be  recorded  as  rare  in  the  United 
States.  A  Qote  in  the  possession  of  the  writer  records  a  weevil  as 
having  been  reared  from  young  shoots  of  sugar  cane  which  were  col- 
lected at  Fairvievt  Plantation,  Berwick,  La.,  on  April  28,  1910,  by 
Mr.  I).  L.  Van  Dine.  Mr.  Van  Dine  found  the  larva-  jusl  above 
the  surface  of  the  ground.  Mr.  E  R.  Barber  of  this  office  states  thai 
lie  found  pupa-  of  weevils  in  the  sugar  cane  at  Audubon  Park,  New 
(  hrleans,  in  1911.  During  the  early  9ummer  in  1912  t  he  writer  found 
weevil  borers  in  the  young  sugar-cane  plant-  at  Audubon  Park  and 
at  the  experiment  station  at  Brownsville,  Tex.  The  weevils  found 
at  Brownsville  were  in  the  Larval  stage  in  dying  plants  of  stubble 
cane,  below  the  surface  of  the  ground  and  near  the  poinl  where  the 
young  shoot  left  the  old  stubble,  in  plant  cane  at  Audubon  Park 
the  weevil  larva  were  also  found  below  the  surface,  and  near  the 
point  where  the  young  plum  joined  the  seed  cane.  The  larvae  were 
from  one-eighth  to  one  fourth  of  an  inch  in  length.  Sometimes  a 
borer  was  found  in  the  middle  of  the  stem,  while  in  other  cases  the 
borers  were  near  one  side  of  the  stem.  The  injury  to  the  plant  i- 
like  the  "dead  heart  "  caused  by  our  moth  borer.  It  seems  probable 
that  the  moth  borer  is  blamed  for  some  of  the  injury  caused  by  the 
weevils. 

Very  likely  these  horer^  have  been  introduced   in  shipment-  <>i 

BUgar  cane  from  the  Tropics.  They  are  -mall  and  their  work  is 
hard  to  find,  so  that  they  might  easily  have  escaped  the  eye  of  the 
average  person.  So  few  of  the  weevils  have  been  found  up  to  date 
that  there  may  he  no  occasion  for  alarm,  while  on  the  other  hand 
they  may  increase  in  numbers  so  a-  to  become  a  serious  pest. 

tiik  raooHon 

Probably  the  greatesl  damage  from  froghoppers  or  spittle  ins 

i-  suffered  by  the  cane  planter-  of  the  Island  of  Trinidad,  near  the 
coasl  of  Venezuela.  Froghoppers  suck  the  juice  from  the  cane 
plants.  Remaining  in  one  place  on  the  plant  the}  surround  them- 
selves with  a  coating  of  white  froth,  and  because  of  this  habit  the 
popular  name  of  spittle  insects  has  been  given  to  them.     They  are 


4  [tfSECTS   IX    SHIPMENTS   OF   SUGAB   CAXE. 

small,  winged  creatures,  and  leap  readily  when  disturbed.  The 
froghoppers  breed  in  cane  fields  which  are  damp  and  grassy.  A 
good  method  of  control  is  to  keep  the  cane  fields  free  from  rank  weeds 
and  tall  grass.  A  species  of  froghopper  was  found  last  summer  on 
cane  and  grass  near  New  Orleans  by  Mr.  Gilbert  E.  Bodkin,  Govern- 
ment economic  biologist  of  British  Guiana,  who  examined  some  cane 
fields  in  company  with  the  writer.  Specimens  of  these  insects  were 
sent  to  Dr.  F.  W.  I  rich ,  entomologist  of  Trinidad,  who  states  that 
the  species  is  not  the  same  as  the  one  which  occurs  in  his  vicinity. 
Dr.  1  rich  writes  as  follows: 

I  would  strongly  advise  you  to  make  an  effort  to  eradicate  this  insect  from  the  grass 
surrounding  cane  fields,  for  if  they  get  established  in  sugar  canes  there  is  no  knowing 
what  may  happen.     Our  froghopper  trouble  originated  in  grass. 

THE    LEAFHOPPERS. 

Apparently  we  have  several  leafhoppers  in  this  country,  but  they 
do  not  seem  to  be  injurious,  in  Hawaii,  however,  there  is  a  de- 
structive leafhopper  (Perkinsiella  saccharicida  Kirkaldy)  which  was 
introduced  from  Queensland,  Australia.  The  manner  of  introduction 
and  dispersion  is  described  in  an  interesting  way  by  Mr.  D.  L.  Van 
Dine  x  in  the  following  words: 

The  main  factor  in  the  distribution  of  the  pest  is  the  habit  of  the  female  of  depositing 
her  eggs  beneath  the  epidermis  of  the  internodes  of  the  cane  stock.  It  seems  probable 
that  the  pest  was  introduced  into  the  islands  and  to  a  great  extent  distributed  over 
the  cane  districts  in  seed  cane.  In  local  distribution  other  factors  present  themselves. 
The  leafhopper  is  an  insect  readily  attracted  by  light  at  night,  as  its  presence  about 
lamps  in  the  factories  and  homes  on  the  plantations  testifies.  Passengers  and  steam, 
ship  officers  of  the  interisland  steamers  have  frequently  stated  to  the  writer  on  inquiry 
that  in  many  instances,  especially  at  night,  great  numbers  of  the  insects  have  come 
aboard  in  certain  ports  or  when  offshore  from  certain  plantation  districts.  These 
adults  have  undoubtedly  traveled  in  this  manner  from  one  locality  to  another,  so 
that  an  uninfested  district  might  easily  have  become  infested  while  stopping  at  or 
passing  by  an  infested  locality.  Railway  trains  have  been  equally  active  in  the 
spread  of  the  insect  on  land. 

Another  mode  of  distribution  during  the  general  outbreak  of  1903,  under  conditions 
of  heavy  infestation,  was  the  migration  of  the  pest  from  one  locality  to  another  during 
the  daytime.  These  migrations  were  observed  by  many  of  the  planters.  The  man- 
ager of  one  plantation  in  the  Hamakua  district  of  the  island  of  Hawaii  stated  to  the 
writer  that  in  the  early  evening  of  April  2<>,  1903.  the  atmosphere  was  ''thick  witli 
hoppers"  for  a  distance  of  2  miles  and  that  the  "hoppers"  were  traveling  with  the 
prevailing  wind,  about  southwest.  Similar  migrations,  described  by-  the  observers 
as  "clouds,"  were  mentioned  by  other  managers. 

The  characteristic  injury  of  this  leafhooper  is  also  noted  by  Mr. 
Van  Dine:2 

The  presence  of  the  pest  on  the  plantations  was  noticed  first  by  the  appearance  of 
a  sooty  black  covering  on  the  lower  leaves  of  the  cane  plant.  This  black  covering 
became  known  as  smut.  It  is  a  fungous  growth  and  finds  a  medium  for  development 
in  the  transparent,  sticky  fluid  secreted  by  the  leafhoppers  during  their  feeding  om 
the  plant.     This  secretion  is  commonly  known  as  honeydew. 

1  The  Sugar-Cane  Insects  of  Uawaii.  By  D.  L.  Van  Dine.  Bui.  93,  Bureau  of  Entomology,  0.  S. 
Department  of  Agriculture.     Washington,  1911. 

2  Previous  reference. 


IN8E(   i-    IN    siillWIKN  is   ol    BUCUB   cam..  D 

ill.-  black  -m  1 1  r  or  fungotu  growth  in  the  honeyden  reuetii t  the  leafhopper  and 

aha  red  diacolomtion  about  t li« •  opening!  to  the  eggcbunben  in  the  midribe  of  the 
the  in"-'  pronounced  symptonu  of  the  work  (if  the  leafhoppei 

When  one  considers  thai  this  peel  was  inadvertently  transported 
from  Australia  to  Hawaii,  there  is  do  reason  to  Buppose  that  it  could 
not  l>e  brought  from  Hawaii  to  the  United  States,  more  especially 
after  the  opening  ol  the  Panama  (  anal. 

nil     pis  K    mi  Mini  i.. 

1  Ml.) 

The  pink  mealybug  {Pwudococciu  sacckari  Ckll.)  is  uol  known  to 
occur  in  the  United  States,  though  we  hare  an  allied  species.  It  is 
a  soft  creature  which  infests  the  cane  in  a  aimilai  manner  to  the 
form  which  occurs  in  tlu>  United  States,  vt  bich  is  considered  in  another 
place  in  this  publication.  It  occurs  in  Cuba,  Porto  Rico,  South 
America,  and  probably  elsewhere.  We  hai  e  received  some  specimens 
from  Costa  Rica. 

no:    u  i  BT-INDl  vs    IfOl  I    (  RI(  hi  l. 

(8eapUrisau  didactyltu  1 

The  Weal    Indian  mole  cricket    (Scapteriscus  didactyltu  Latr.)  is 

recorded  from  the  West  Indies  generally  and  from  South  America, 
but  it  is  especially  destructive  in  Porto  Rico,  where  "il  abounds 
over  all  the  island  and  attacks  practically  all  cultivated  plants."1 
This  insect  burrows  in  the  >oil  and  feeds  on  the  cane  and  other 
plants.      lt>  peculiar  life  history  make-  it  very  difficult  to  control. 

The  omnivorous  habit  of  the  mole  cricket  of  Porto  Rico  indicates 
that  the  sugar  planter  may  not  he  the  only  one  who  will  lose  by  the 
careless  introduction  of  sugar  cane.  It  seems  possible,  too,  that 
insects  not  known  to  attack  SUgSJ  cane  but  which  attack  other  plants 
may  be  transferred  from  place  to  place  in  shipments  of  cane. 

OTHER    FOKKK.S     QfBBCfS. 

There  are  many  other  insects  of  lesser  importance  that  attack 
sugar  cane  in  the  Tropics,  but  it  will  hardly  be  accessary  to  consider 
them  here  except  to  State  that  an  insect  which  i-  of  little  harm  in 
one  country  may  become  surprisingly  injur, oils  if  brought  to  another 
country.  The  reason  for  this  is  that  in  it-  Dative  place  a  Bpecies 
Usually  has  natural  enemies  of  one  kind  or  another  which  check  its 
progress,  while  if  the  injurious  specie-  becomes  established  in  a  new 
home  its  enemies  are  seldom  introduced  with  it  and  the  harmful 
insect  reaches  its  maximum  development.  Insects  that  are  con- 
sidered of  little  consequence  by  our  tropica]  friend-  may  become  of 
almost  tragic  importance  to  us  if  we  allow  them  to  enter  our  borders. 

'  Seoon.l  Annul  Report  of  tb  I  the  Sugar  Prodi  f  Porto  Rico) 

lor  the  Year  19111912.     Report  ol  the  KntomoloiiiM  by  D.  I.  Vi»  Mm      i  P   H  .  1912. 


6  INSECTS   IN   SHIPMENTS   OF    SUGAR   CANE. 

INSECTS    OCCURRING    IN    THE    UNITED    STATES. 
THE    SUGAR-CANE    MOTH    BORER. 

(Diatrxa  saccharalu  Fab.) 

The  sugar-cane  moth  borer  is  easily  the  most  important  of  the 
insects  injurious  to  sugar  cane  in  the  United  States.  Like  other 
sugar-cane  insects  it  was  probably  introduced  from  the  Tropics, 
though  the  time  of  this  introduction  is  very  uncertain.1  The  nature 
of  injury  is  only  too  familiar  to  most  planters.  The  adult,  a  small 
moth,  deposits  its  eggs  in  clusters  on  the  leaves  of  the  cane  plants. 
These  eggs  hatch,  and  the  small  larvae,  or  borers,  which  emerge  begin 
to  gnaw  their  way  into  the  stalk.  The  injury  in  the  early  spring  is 
known  as  "dead  heart,"  and  consists  of  the  decaying  of  the  tender 
shoot  of  the  young  plant.  This  is  caused  by  the  inner  tissues  being 
severed  by  the  borer  near  the  surface  of  the  ground.  Later  in  the 
season  the  borer  is  found  in  the  stalks  of  cane,  in  wliich  it  gnaws 
irregular  tunnels. 

Mr.  T.  C.  Barber2  has  made  an  investigation  of  the  actual  loss 
directly  due  to  the  moth  borer,  and  he  summarizes  his  results  in  these 
words : 

The  sugar-cane  borer  damages  cane  in  the  field  by  destroying  a  considerable  per- 
centage of  the  eyes,  thus  reducing  the  stand  of  plant  cane;  by  stunting  the  growth  of 
the  cane,  owing  to  the  physical  injury  of  the  stem;  by  admitting  fungous  djseaaee 
through  the  wounds  in  the  stem,  and  is  the  main  cause  of  injury  by  the  wind,  owing 
to  the  weakening  of  the  stalk  due  to  the  tunnels  and  burrows.  These  classes  of  injury 
have  been  appreciated  by  planters.  It  now  develops  that  there  is  another  and  very 
important  class  of  injury  which  has  been  overlooked.  This  is  the  reduction  of  both 
the  quantity  and  cpiality  of  the  juice,  which  is  dealt  with  specially  in  this  circular 
It  becomes  evident,  that  both  the  planters  and  the  manufacturers  are  vitally  in  ten  •- 
in  the  work  of  the  sugar-cane  borer. 

The  distribution  of  the  moth  borer  seems  to  be  limited,  in  a  general 
way,  to  the  southern  half  of  Louisiana  and  the  lower  Rio  Grande 
Valley  in  Texas.  The  infestation  is  not  uniform,  but  is  affected  by 
local  conditions.  Our  notes  indicate  that  the  moth  borer  is  not  to 
be  found  at  Sugarland  and  Victoria,  Tex.;  at  Biloxi  and  Hattiesburg, 
Miss.;  nor  at  Montgomery  and  Selma,  -Via.  This  matter  should  be 
further  investigated,  however,  as  we  have  not  had  the  opportunity 
to  examine  very  many  fields  at  any  of  the  places  mentioned.  Where 
the  moth  borer  is  not  known  to  occur  the  planters  should  be  very 
careful  in  bringing  in  shipments  of  cane  from  other  communities. 

'  Cane  borer  (Dia'rxa  saccharalis).  Report  of  investigations  by  W.  C.  Stubbs,  director,  and  H.  A.  M  ir- 
gan,  entomologist.  Bulletin  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  second  series,  No.  70.  Baton 
Rouge,  La.,  1902. 

2  Damage  to  Sugar  Cane  in  Louisiana  by  the  Sugar  Cane  Borer.  By  T.  C.  Barber.  Circular  139,  Bureau 
of  Entomology,  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture.     Washington,  1911. 


[NSECTS   IN    SifTPMEVl  liAR   CAN  7 

■in     QBA1     MEALYBUG 

■   Miutk.) 

Another  inseel  which  has  entered  the  United  States  From  the 
Tropics  is  the  mealybug,  or  ''pou-a-pouche,"  as  it  is  often  called  in 
Li  uisiana.  We  have  here  called  it  the  graj  mealybug  to  distinguish 
it  from  the  pink  one  which  Is  considered  under  "Foreign  Insects." 
Mr.  J.  B.  ( isirrrt  t  '  nun  If  a  study  of  the  mealybug  some  pears  ago,  and 
ire  quote  lu^  statement  concerning  it--  history  in  Louisiana: 

Jnsi  how  long  the  sugar- cane  mealybug  has  been  in  Louisiana  and  from  whence  it 
came  is  problematical.  Information  received  from  Borne  of  the  oldest  cane  plant 
in  southern  Louisiana  indicates  that  the  inseel  was  imported  on  seat 1  cane  about  25 
Tears  ago  and  became  established  on  some  "i  the  plantations  Dear  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi  [liver.  Prom  this  point  it  has  worked  its  way  north  to  the « 1  i.-t rict  around 
New  Orleans  Pr.  Win.  r  Stubbs,  formerly  director  "t  the  Louisiana  [Experiment 
Stations,  states  thai  the  mealybug  made  its  Grel  app  the  ~-  > i.-.tr  Bzperiment 

Station  at  Audubon  l'.irk.  New  Orleans,  in  1891.  It  did  i » » •  •  become  established  at 
the  station  from  this  introduction  for  the  reason  that  all  infested  i  anes  were  taken  up 
and  burned     Several  years  later  a  second  introduction  to  the  Sugar  Experiment 

.  Ion  plats  occurred.  Because  of1  the  great  value  of  the  varieties  infested,  it  became 
more  practical  to  attempt  control  and  exercise  precautions  in  the  distribution  of  seed 
cane  than  to  take  the  rigid  measures  of  eradication.    'I  -ures  would  have 

meant  the  destruction  of  the  varieties  in  practically  all  of  the  Station  plats  will,  the 

reintroduction  from  outside  almost  a  certainty,    This  would  have  been  an  irreparable 
to  the  station  and  of  no  protection  to  the  planter  since  the  pest  i-  well  established 
iii  the  surrounding  plantations. 

The  mealybug  maj  be  recognized  <>n  the  cane  plant  by  the  mealy 
or  floury  secretion  by  which  it  is  surrounded.  The  inseel  attaches 
itself  to  the  stalk  of  cane  and  sucks  the  juice.  It-  greatesi  injury  is 
in  killing  the  buds  of  windrowed  or  other  cane,  causing  a  low  percent- 
age o!"  germination  the  following  year.  It  is  limited  to  a  certain 
area  in  Louisiana,  especially  to  plantations  along  the  Mississippi 
River.  The  writer  found  an  infestation  of  the  mealybug  at  the 
experiment  station  at  Brownsville,  Tex.,  in  Qctober,  1912,  and  he 
advised  those  in  charge  to  take  every  means  of  eradicating  the  pest. 

THF     Bl    G  MM    Ufl      A  III  I  lll> 

An  aphidid  or  plant  louse  was  found  this  year  (1912)  by  the  writer 
at  a  number  of  places  in  southern  Louisiana  and  near  Barhngen, 

Tex.  It  appears  to  he  a  species  new  to  science  as  well  as  to  most 
suo;ar  planters.     Its  importance  i>  doubtful,  as  we  have  practically 

no  information  about  it. 

\  l'rvlnnm.iry  Report  on  Tho  BagarCana  Mealy-ling.  By  J.  n.  Qamtt  Agrtonltnnl  Experiment 
Mat  ion  ol  the  Louisiana  State  t  oivercitj  and  v.  ami  "  oaiou  Rouge,  La.,  1910. 


5  INSECTS   IN   SHIPMENTS   OF   SUGAR  CANE. 

OTHER    INSECTS   OCCURRING    IN   THE    UNITED   STATES. 

We  have  considered  the  weevil  borers  as  foreign  insects,  but  as 
they  have  already  been  found  in  the  United  States  they  may  sooner 
or  later  force  us  to  give  them  a  place  among  our  own  species. 

There  are  some  injurious  beetles,  and  one  species  seems  to  be  con- 
fined to  a  certain  part  of  Louisiana.  During  tliis  year  no  definite 
records  have  been  obtained  regarding  them. 

Still  other  insects  which  are  more  or  less  injurious  to  sugar  cane 
occur  in  this  country,  but  they  do  not  deserve  mention  in  this  paper. 
There  may  be  still  others  of  which  we  have  no  knowledge,  for  exten- 
sive field  examinations  have  been  made  only  during  this  year.  The 
information  which  has  been  obtained,  however,  indicates  the  need 
for  further  investigations. 

CONCLUSION. 

The  fact  that  the  principal  insects  injurious  to  sugar  cane  in  the 
United  States  seem  to  have  been,  inadvertently  introduced  from  the 
Tropics  indicates  the  necessity  for  more  careful  inspection  of  ship- 
ments of  sugar  cane  entering  this  country.  Indeed,  most  extraordi- 
nary efforts  would  be  justified  to  prevent  the  introduction  of  other 
pests.  As  to  the  insects  which  we  now  have,  it  is  evident  that  they 
are  found  only  in  certain  places  and  that  they  are  more  abundant  in 
some  places  than  in  others.  The  fullest  information  is  needed,  there- 
fore, regarding  their  present  occurrence.  Otherwise',  the  planter,  in 
seeking  to  benefit  himself  by  bringing  in  a  shipment  of  seed  cane  from 
some  outside  point,  may  really  occasion  loss  to  himself  and  his 
neighbors.  The  pest  which  has  once  become  established  presents  a 
problem  to  the  planter  and  the  entomologist,  and  a  period  of  many 
years  may  be  too  short  a  time  to  solve  some  of  the  problems  with 
which  we  already  have  to  deal.  But  if  means  are  provided  for  keep- 
ing out  the  injurious  insects  altogether  the  work  will  be  correspond- 
ingly simplified  and  the  planters  and  manufacturers  may  be  saved 
manv  thousands  of  dollars. 


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